Max Verstappens victory in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix over the previously all-conquering Mercedes group was, in the end, a comfy one, though it was in fact constructed on the most slim of margins.
With severe rear tire blistering, neither the pole-setting Valtteri Bottas nor Lewis Hamilton could hold off the Red Bull-Honda of Verstappen who, after remaining out for an opening stint twice as long as theirs, overcut himself into the lead and proceeded to manage the race, untroubled by any tyre issues.
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Uniquely, Verstappen had run the difficult tire in Q2 and this allowed that longer very first stint. Hindsight recommends that just identified the path to his victory, not the success itself, which would likely have unfolded even if he d run the very same technique as Mercedes.
There would always have actually come a point where the Mercedes tire problems would have compromised them around the pit stops and Verstappens much exceptional rate could have been utilized to leapfrog past.
Verstappen stated he hoped various tire technique would work after certifying at the 70th Anniversary GP
It was a similar technique to that which Red Bull had been attempting in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix where Verstappen suffered an early retirement when holding second place in between the Mercedes and on a more difficult tire, intending to go longer. We didnt get to discover whether it would have worked there– and nor did we here actually, as his success was guaranteed regardless.
If the Mercedes had actually not suffered their tyre problems, Verstappens difficult tyre Q2 method might have provided him a vital benefit and potentially even permitted him to have actually competed for the win versus a healthy Mercedes.
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the key moments from Verstappens dazzling surprise win at Silverstone
Pirellis re-positioning of the compounds for the 70th Anniversary race intentionally made it strategically challenging, in an effort at differentiating the race from the British Grand Prix seven days previously.
Moving the range a whole step softer, recentlys medium (the C2) became this weeks hard. Last weeks soft (the C3) ended up being the new medium. This weeks soft (the C4) was essentially unusable as a race tyre around the long, high-G sweeps of Silverstone, extremely overheating even by the end of a single lap and enforcing a short and unfeasibly sluggish race stint.
Mercedes had more issues keeping the tyres cool than Red Bull, and Verstappens difficult tyre gamble assured success
Simply to spice it up even more, Pirelli assigned each vehicle eight of these inappropriate tyres however only 3 of the medium and 2 of the hard. For the whole weekend.
Even over a qualifying lap, the soft was no faster than the medium. It would be quicker at the start of the lap but overheating by the time they got to the Maggotts/Becketts series and consequently slower in the last sector.
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch all the action from an awesome qualifying session for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix
Mercedes shied away from it, partly due to the fact that of their experience recently when Hamilton and Bottas had each lost a set of mediums in certifying– the former with a spin, the latter with gravel cuts. This week, given their evident efficiency advantage, they were not inclined to take the threat due to the fact that to lose among simply 2 sets of hards would potentially destroy their race.
Which made Red Bulls strategy of utilizing the hard quite risky. Only Verstappen tried it.
70th Anniversary Grand Prix: Sensational Verstappen wins at Silverstone
There was a double danger to Verstappens hard-tyre method. He may not be fast enough on them to make Q3 and if he flat-spotted or damaged them in any method in the effort, his race method was doomed. He might only do one run because, with only 2 such sets allocated, he could not pay for to burn through both. He delivered the lap wonderfully and error-free. But would it be quickly enough?
READ MORE: Hamilton pleased to take P2 after hardcore blistering provided unforeseen obstacle
There was a double danger to Verstappens hard-tyre technique.” We believed that it was our finest chance to take on the Mercedes, to do something various. And by beginning on the hard tyre we offered ourselves a chance,” said Christian Horner.
” We believed that it was our best chance to handle the Mercedes, to do something different. And by starting on the tough tire we gave ourselves an opportunity,” said Christian Horner. “Im stunned no one else tried it.”
He survived ninth-quickest, a couple of tenths ahead of the cut-off. Had Carlos Sainz or Sebastian Vettel not been compromised, Verstappens gamble might have bust.
This weeks soft (the C4) was essentially unusable as a race tire around the long, high-G sweeps of Silverstone, wildly overheating even by the end of a single lap and enforcing an unfeasibly sluggish and brief race stint.
Only Verstappen attempted it.
